The final night, set for Saturday, April 5 at 7 p.m. at Marathon Music Works, will feature a range of fashion from six designers. With minimal modern designer Julia Cavortress to red carpet glamor by Jonathan Kayne, the closing night will also showcase two menswear designers, Rodd & Gunn from New Zealand and Jacob Holston.

Fern Mallis, founder of Fashion Week in New York City is coming to Nashville to speak at the Fashion Forward Gala.

Mallis, who hosts radio series Fashion Insider on Sirius XM’s STARS channel and appeared on Project Runway, America’s Next Top Model and other fashion reality shows, will be the guest speaker at the Gala, an event tied to Nashville’s own Fashion Week.

With an insider knowledge of the design industry she is sometimes called The Godmother of Fashion and is credited with centralizing New York’s fashion industry to compete with European runway shows in Milan and Paris. She served for ten years as the executive director of the Council of Fashion Designers of America.

This is the launch year for the Fashion Forward Gala, slated for April 3 at Oz Nashville, one of many events aimed at promoting fashion, art and local designers in and around Nashville during the five day celebration of fashion.

Nashville Fashion Week is April 1-5 with runway shows and events daily. For more ticket information, www.nashvillefashionweek.com

The final night of Nashville Fashion Week featured emerging designers, the so-called newbies of the week.
These talented folks are just starting out in the design and fashion world, so to compare them to established designers would be ridiculous.
Wisely, they are showcased as a group, so you can clearly see who is retail ready, who is in for the love of art and who is artisan driven.
My favorite line of the night, by young designer Elizabeth Suzann, is ready for retail.The five piece collection would sell in a minute at any Nashville upscale boutique.
Designer Sarah Jane Estes used reclaimed clothing to fabricate her collection. Maybe that is why bits and pieces seemed out of place. I get the idea, but executing a product that is totally reclaimed may be tricky. One dress however, a flirty red number, was amazing.
Blooming Leopold also scored big. The collection of floaty pieces felt cohesive and you could see a sense of vision and personality in each piece.
Another favorite was from L.A. based Voyage Clothing. Separates that seemed wearable, edgy and well-crafted, it was a crowd favorite as well.

Click the photo to see a gallery from Day 4 at Nashville Fashion Week.

Some meals are too rich. Some too spicy. And then, there is the perfect mix of salty, sweet, crunchy and silky. The tastes are perfect. The tablescape divine. The guests witty and charming.

Such was the case at last night’s Nashville Fashion Week. A perfect fashion mix that was a combination of beautiful, sexy, feminine, edgy, charming, cutting edge and wearable.

Sand, a collection from a Danish fashion house, brought a wildly exciting menswear collection to the runway. The fabric alone was incredible, but the Euro-cut for suiting took the entire look over the top. Available locally at Levy’s, I would love to see menswear like this walking the streets of Nashville.

Lagi Nadeau, a young designer whose creations are sold at upscale Jamie, had beautiful knits and some stunning dresses. I especially loved the strong oxblood colored pieces in her fall collection.

Lauren Leonard, the winner of the last year’s Fashion Forward Fund, showed the fall collection to her line, Leona. Her inspiration, Jean Shrimpton, was clear. The looks were cheeky, fun and feminine.

I fell in love last night with every piece that Abi Ferrin showcased. This collection was by far my favorite for the week.

Wearable, unique and interesting. Without being weird for the sake of weird. It was amazing, especially the dresses and jumpsuits. Yes, I said jumpsuits, they were stunning.

Click the photo above to see a gallery from Nashville Fashion Week: Day 3

Nashville Fashion Week premiered a daytime show at the Belmont Mansion featuring gowns from Memeka by Gustavo Cadile and Modern Trousseau on day three and the event was rainbows and unicorns in my book.

Beautiful gowns, beautiful venue and attendees who, only the night before clad in edgy black, seemed to drink the pretty Kool-Aid by wearing party frocks and Man Men-esque suits and ties.

Since I could easily wear a ball gown to go grocery shopping (clearly dressing down is not my strong suit) I loved every beautiful creation that floated down the runway.

Cadile, who is a regular at NFW and trunks shows often at upscale boutiqe Gus Mayer, clearly aims his gowns at the Symphony Ball set. Elegant and lovely, these are gowns for women. In fact, some of the younger models looked incongruent wearing the pieces.

Modern Trouseau, a local bridal boutique, also worked to curate looks that were beautiful and soft for the runway.

Click the photo above to see a gallery from Nashville Fashion Week: Night 2

Last night was a shock and awe night for fashion. Both on the runway and off.

The event was slated for the venue Rolling Mill Hills at the Trolley Barn. Like most of the crowd, I didn’t realize the Trolley Barn was actually an outdoor space. Blue lips, bare legs and chattering teeth aside, I huddled with the rest of the crowd for the fashion show.

As in years past, T.Raines sent edgy (shock and awe) artistic fashion down the runway. Including his signature nearly nude male models. The crowd seemed to warm up a bit after they appeared, but he did offer a few looks that you could actually wear.

Pink Elephants Designs showed one of the best collections of the night. Starting with cupcake confections and progressing to dark and dramatic gowns, the looks were interesting and sophisticated.

My favorite collection was from Maria Silver. Her slinky gown in ruby velvet, an homage to flapper-esque meets Studio 54, was lovely. The collection, Black by Maria Silver, was fashion that was wearable and beautiful.

Click to see a gallery of looks from the opening night of Nashville Fashion Week

Last night’s Nashville Fashion Week show, held at The Pinnacle at Symphony Place, was clearly year three.

The behind the scenes crew, according to NFW founding member Connie Cathcart Richardson, worked like a well oiled machine. The fashion was a perfect mix of wearable beautiful items with a bit of outrageous kitsch. And the crowd was dressed to thrill.

Perhaps because the event is moving out of infancy, it also seemed a tiny bit flat. Not at exhilarating as years past, but still a worthwhile fashion view.

Three separate collections were featured for the opening night event, all from national designers.

Clearly, the star of the night? The opulent looks from designer Misha Nonoo. Tailored, feminine and evoking a Russian princess, they were lovely and romantic.

Red Doll, a crowd favorite, was slightly Lolita-esque. One look involved two pieces of chiffon and double sided tape. Sexy, sweet and tiny bet naughty, the younger crowd was swooning.

The collection from Tracy Reese seemed a bit less interesting. Probably because you can see similar looks in stores right now.

Each store will offer different events and/or incentives such as 20% off at Absolution at The Mall at Green Hills, or 20% off at Apricot Lane, located in The Gulch.

After a full day of shopping, you can attend a cocktail party at Pine Street Flats in The Gulch from 6pm to 8 pm, with an after party at Kocktails and Kouture. Admission is free with a receipt from any of the participating NFW retailers, with a complimentary drink ticket.

All participating retailers are donating 10% of their sales or a minimum of a $250 to the Nashville Fashion Forward Fund of the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee.

]]>http://blogs.tennessean.com/shopping/2013/04/02/shopping-event/feed/0Edgy to chic, spring fashions are fabhttp://blogs.tennessean.com/shopping/2013/03/29/edgy-to-chic-spring-fashions-are-fab/
http://blogs.tennessean.com/shopping/2013/03/29/edgy-to-chic-spring-fashions-are-fab/#commentsSat, 30 Mar 2013 00:22:35 +0000Cathi Aycockhttp://blogs.tennessean.com/shopping/?p=12253Fashion shows are not one-size-fits-all. Some have art-centric undertones — with edgy fashionistas and hipsters looking avidly indifferent to the cool and sometimes outrageous fashion. Other shows are part society, part ballgown fashion bonanza. Still other shows are girlfriend gab fests with a strong charitable tie-in.

I attend almost all the spring fashion events and love them equally. But they each have their own unique personality. Today we offer a primer on what you will see on the runway and in the viewing crowd.

Models walk the runway at the Monique Lhuillier Spring 2013 fashion show in New York. Lhuillier will show her couture collection at the Nashville Symphony Spring Fashion Show. / Getty images for Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week / CLICK PHOTO FOR A GALLERY OF FASHIONS

Friends & Fashion

If you want happy, Friends & Fashion is your show. Is it couture or high-end? No. Instead you are going to hear the words “cute” and “pretty” used by the crowd as pastel-colored dresses saunter down the runway.

This show has a charitable tie-in and usually features a tear-jerker moment or two — frankly, I cry every year. But, somehow, all the girlfriend time lifts my mood. And it doesn’t hurt that the models smile — shockingly! — the entire time they walk. You will leave feeling happy.

What: Friends & Fashion, a fundraiser for Monore Carrell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt, features a runway show with fashion from Belk followed by a luncheon.

• An Evening With Friends, 7 p.m. April 12 at The Loveless Barn, featuring food, drink, auctions and entertainment by Josh Hoge, Ward Guenther and surprise guests. $75 per person.

• Sundae With Friends, 3 p.m. April 14 at Embassy Suites in Cool Springs. A behind-the-scenes look at a runway show for mothers and daughters. The event includes a sundae bar, hair and makeup fun, photo booth and a walk along the runway. $40 per person.

Details: www.childrenshospital.vanderbilt.org/friendsandfashion

Nashville Fashion Week

If you love to be on the cutting edge of, well, everything, use lots of social media, have had the word “edgy” used to describe your style and/or support local artists, then you need to hit one or all of the shows that make up Nashville Fashion Week.

It is an artsy fashion fest with some established designers mixed in with local and regional fashion leaders. Not all of the fashion is about wearability; there is a bit of shock value mixed with pretty pieces. But the nightly exposure to talent and art is pretty thrilling to watch.

In previous years, I have been well past the median age for attendees. The event skews young, and many in the crowd are ready to hit the parties post-show. And for good reason: The parties are almost as entertaining as the fashion shows themselves. Of course, I am usually too tired (see the age thing) to completely enjoy them.

This year, NFW is luring the ladies-who-lunch crowd with a fashion show led by upscale boutique Gus Mayer. It will take place in the middle of the day at Belmont Mansion, followed by a very proper tearoom lunch post show. This is the sort of fashion event that will lure an older crowd, so maybe I won’t be at the far end of the age range for long.

If you have a bit of disposable income that you want to spend to support the Nashville Symphony, and are ready for a competitive dressing crowd, the Nashville Symphony Spring Fashion Show is your gig. Expect lots of lovely, well-coiffed women at this upscale society event. It really is one of the prettiest shows around — it’s breathtaking to watch the models walk in designer apparel. An elaborate cocktail party takes place post-show, so cocktail-esque attire is appropriate.

Of course, just when I think I have this show figured out, it throws a curveball. This year, ticket prices are staggered from $150 to $450, luring a younger crowd. Smart move.

Tickets: $300 to $450 for reserved floor and loge boxes, $150 for first balcony

Fashion extras:

• Karen Elson will perform before the show and band LEAGUES will take the stage post-show.

• After-party with open bar, tapas and hors d’oeuvres is open to reserved-seating guests; a casual after-party with open bar and light hors d’oeuvres is available to balcony-seating ticket holders.

Details: www.nashvillesymphony.org/fashionshow

Eloise Student Fashion Show

The final show under my fashion microscope is sort of an incubation for Nashville Fashion Week in many ways. Local O’More College of Design showcases fashion from students in this sometimes uneven but always entertaining show.

Some of the featured young designers are bound for greatness — or at least the next step, via a stint showing at Nashville Fashion Week. I have seen collections that rival anything I have seen at upscale boutiques around town, as well as pieces that are less than stellar. But the show itself — the lighting, music, models — is all top-notch.

The attendee vibe is all-encompassing, with artist types and fashion bloggers, parents and grandparents mixing it up with young girls who dream of “Project Runway.”

Nashville Fashion Week announced designers for the 5-day fashion fest that is slated for April 2-6, 2013 at locations around Nashville.

The week kicks off on Tuesday, April 2 at The Pinnacle at Symphony Place with designer Kal Kieman and Red Doll, two lines based out of New York City.

Wednesday night, the fashion show will be held at Trolley Barns of Rolling Mill Hills with the headliner perennial favorite, and often outrageous, T.Rains. Lines Tuft, Pink Elephant Designs and Black by Maria Silver will also walk.

Thursday offers a change of pace from previous fashion week events. The show will be held during the day, 11:30 am, at the Belmont Mansion featuring Memeka by Gustavo Caudille and Modern Trousseau .

On Friday a collection from the 2012 Nashville Fashion Forward Fund recipient, Lauren Leonard, designer of Leona will be shown as well as looks from Danish fashion house SAND, presented by Levy’s. The show will be held at Grand Avenue in downtown Nashville.

Saturday, the conclusion of Nashville Fashion Week, still does not have a designer pegged to the event, but will be held at the nightclub Anthem in Nashville.